Rome. The Eternal City. Its elected leaders are the inheritors of a millennia-old tradition forming the basis of modern municipal and state government. Yet where senators once debated inside the august walls of the Curia, now city councillors play video games.

Laptops are issued to town hall bosses, pre-loaded with video games, says Metro of the U.K. (in a report on dubious city council activities in its own country.) This isn't insinuated. A direct quote attributed to Rome's mayor says the machines are issued for just that purpose.